‘Give them a ring and they’ll let you know when they’ll be finished with it,’ Baxter suggested.

The Colonel shook Braun’s hand. ‘Thanks for your assistance. I’m sorry if we got off on the wrong foot, but I’m sure you understand we have a job to do.’

‘It’s OK, no harm done.’

‘Just for our records, what’s your wife’s name and occupation, please?’

‘Elizabeth – she’s an assistant teacher at a local school.’

Baxter made a note in his pocket notebook, then tore out a page with his details and the office number on it and handed it to Braun.

‘If there’s anything else you think of that might be of help to our investigation, then ring us on this number.’

As they got into the unmarked police car, Baxter, who was driving, turned to the Colonel.

‘What do you reckon about Braun?’

‘He’s dodgy. It wasn’t that long ago the brigade got pissed off about the Edmund-Davies report recommending a forty-five per cent pay rise for police and they went on strike wanting more money.’

Baxter laughed. ‘I remember that. Each nick had to have a dedicated fire patrol car and the army were called in to attend fires in their Green Goddesses – it was a shambles. But what’s that got to do with him being dodgy?’

‘Yeah, well, they only got a ten per cent rise – their pay and pensions are shit, so a lot of them moonlight to earn more money.’

‘You think he’s moonlighting as a criminal?’

‘The theft of his wife’s handbag might be legit, but he could have given his spare key to the robbers and made sure they nicked the car while he was on holiday.’

‘You reckon?’ Baxter said sceptically.

The Colonel looked at Baxter as if he were a fool. ‘Braun’s got a nice three-bedroom semi and a BMW 323i, which happens to be the most expensive model in the range – it only came out last year – plus he can afford a holiday in Mauritius. Think about it, Bax. He’d have to do a lot more than a bit of honest moonlighting to afford all that on a fucking fireman’s wage.’

‘His wife might have a good job.’

‘Don’t you listen? He said she was an assistant teacher. They get paid a pittance – probably not even half of what he does. For my money, Mr Frank Braun’s a wrong ’un and we need to do a bit more digging. Let’s go to Tottenham nick and check out the crime report about the theft of Mrs Braun’s handbag.’

*